Year: 2024

A young fan of Taylor Swift was killed in a car accident while she was on the way to the pop star’s concert in Melbourne, Australia.

Mieka Pokarier, 16, her 10-year-old sister Freya and their mother Kim Litchfield had embarked on a 17-hour road trip from the city of Gold Coast to attend the 34-year-old singer’s Eras Tour show when their SUV collided with a semi-trailer on Thursday according to the Australia’s Herald Sun.

Emergency crews responded to reports of a two-vehicle crash around 6 p.m. near Dubbo, New South Wales.

The teenage girl died at the scene and her younger sister, who suffered brain injuries, a broken leg and a damaged pelvis, was flown to Sydney’s Westmead Hospital where she was placed in an induced coma and remains in critical condition, per the outlet.

The girl’s mother suffered minor injuries and received treatment from paramedics before she was taken to Dubbo Hospital. The driver of the semi-trailer was also transported to Dubbo Hospital and is in stable condition, per The Australian.

Mieka and Freya’s godmother Karleigh Fox told the New York Post that the girls were excited about seeing Swift perform and had tickets to her concerts in Melbourne and Sydney.

Fox created a GoFundMe page for the family which has already received over $25,000 donations.

“Last night one of my dearest friends was driving from the Gold Coast to Melbourne with two of her children (my god children) when they were involved in a front on collision with a semi trailer,” she wrote.

Fox continued, “We are heartbroken to have lost one of her children (aged 16) whilst the 10 year old has been lifted to Westmead Hospital in critical condition, fighting for her life with brain injuries, a damaged pelvis and broken leg.”

“The family have all had to cease work to fly down and I’m trying to get a flight to support the Mum as she’s alone in Dubbo until we can get her to Sydney. Funds will be used to function in this challenging time,” she added.

“We are also seeking accomodation which is hard to find in Sydney at the moment due to the Swifty influx of anyone knows anything.

Thank you for your support. This was supposed to be a road trip of a life time with them going to concerts in both Melbourne and Sydney,” Fox concluded.

In later updates, Fox said that she had traveled from Gold Coast to Sydney to support the family. She wrote that Litchfield had flown from Dubbo to Sydney where she was reunited with Freya at the hospital.

“It was very emotional,” she wrote of the reunion. “We are playing her favourite Taylor Swift album ‘1989 Taylor’s Version’ on repeat in her room and telling her about the merch we are seeing people buying on line.”

Fox explained that Freya would remain in a medically-induced coma for a few more days as she recovers.

“We had some thorough chats with the incredible doctors about the potential prognosis and we are not out of the woods yet with risks of swelling in the brain and infection still evident. This could still be life threatening,” she wrote.

Fox also expressed her gratitude to the hospital staff, the family’s supportive network of friends and donors who had contributed to the GoFundMe.

On the night, Swift performed in front of 96,000 fans at her sold-out concert at Melbourne’s Cricket Ground.

The “Blank Space” hitmaker is set for two additional shows at the venue on Feb. 17 and Feb.18. Next weekend, she is scheduled for four back to back shows from Feb. 23 to Feb. 26 at Sydney’s Accor Stadium.

The fatal crash comes three months after a fan died at Swift’s concert amid record heat in Rio de Janiero, Brazil.

Ana Clara Benevides Machado was identified as the fan who died during Swift’s November opening Eras tour concert in the South American country. The 23-year-old fainted at the Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium and later died.

Swift shared a handwritten note on social media in which she wrote that she was “devastated” to learn of Benevides’ death.

“I can’t believe I’m writing these words but it is with a shattered heart that I say we lost a fan earlier tonight before my show. I can’t even tell you how devastated I am by this,” she wrote on Instagram at the time. “There’s very little information I have other than the fact that she was so incredibly beautiful and far too young.”

“I’m not going to be able to speak about this from stage because I feel overwhelmed by grief when I even try to talk about it. I want to say now I feel this loss deeply and my broken heart goes out to her family and friends. This is the last thing I ever thought would happen when we decided to bring this tour to Brazil,” Swift added.

The following day, Swift’s second concert in Rio de Janeiro was postponed due to “extreme temperatures.”

Swift met with Benevides’ family at the Nov. 26 “Eras Tour” stop in São Paulo. The singer-songwriter also performed “Bigger Than the Whole Sky” as a surprise song after Benevides’ death. The song features lyrics such as “Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye/You were bigger than the whole sky/You were more than just a short time.”

In December, Rio’s Forensic Medical Institute listed heat exhaustion as the cause of Benevides’ death.

Armenian Freestyle Wrestling Team’s Arsen Harutyunyan has been declared a four-time European champion after defeating his Turkish opponent

at the European Freestyle Wrestling Championships held in Bucharest.

In the final of the 57 kg category, Harutyunyan wrestled against

Turkey’s Muhammet Karavus and won with a score of 10-0 in just one minute.

A Virginia firefighter is dead, and eleven others are injured after a home explosion obliterated a residence on the evening.

In a press conference, Loudon County Fire & Rescue Assistant Chief of Operations James Williams said that one firefighter is dead, nine firefighters, and two civilians are injured after the explosion “totally devastated” a home in northern Virginia.

Authorities said that at the time of the deadly explosion, firefighters were inside the home.

The Sterling Volunteer Fire Company posted on X that crews responded to reports of a gas leak that turned into a “structural fire” at the residence at 7:40 p.m. on Friday evening.

“Soon after arrival, the house did explode,” Williams said.

Williams said that the nine firefighters and two civilians were transported to local hospitals.

He said that some had serious injuries.

Officials did not identify the firefighter killed in the blaze during the press conference but did say that the community was deeply affected by the incident.

“It’s a huge physical and emotional toll on everyone associated with the fire department. Obviously, the people who are trapped, the rescuers that are going in to try to pull them out, the incident commander,” Williams said.

Residents said that they heard an “enormous boom” that “shook” their entire home.

“Enormous boom shook the whole house just now. Ran upstairs, outside with flashlights and all the neighbors were doing the same,” one Sterling resident told FOX 5. “Apparently, a house exploded on a street nearby.”

Photos from the scene showed a large law enforcement presence battling a fire among the home’s rubble amid thick plumes of smoke.

According to FOX 5, the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company reported that they are being assisted by Fairfax Fire and Rescue Department and the Ashburn Fire Department.

The Luray Fire Department took to Facebook in support of their fellow firefighters, writing, “Please keep Loudoun County Firefighters in your thoughts and prayers.

ԿԳՄՍ նախարարության պատմության և մշակույթի հուշարձանների պահպանության վարչության, «Պատմամշակութային արգելոց-թանգարանների և պատմական միջավայրի պահպանության ծառայություն» և «Պատմամշակութային ժառանգության գիտահետազոտական կենտրոն» ՊՈԱԿ-ների մասնագետները հերթական շրջայցն են կատարել մի շարք հուշարձաններ: Այս մասին հայտնում են ՀՀ ԿԳՄՍՆ-ից։

Այցի ընթացքում տեղում քննարկվել և հստակեցվել են Աղձքի հայոց արքաների դամբարանի նորոգման, ամրակայման և տարածքի բարեկարգման գիտանախագծային փաստաթղթերի ձեռքբերման մրցույթի տեխնիկական բնութագիրը և պահանջները: Նախագծի մրցույթը ԿԳՄՍ նախարարությունը կհայտարարի առաջիկա օրերի ընթացքում: Քննարկվել է նաև Աղձք պատմամշակութային արգելոցի հարակից տարածքի՝ հանրության գերակա շահ ճանաչելու և արգելոցի տարածքին միացնելու հարցը:

Հաջորդ կանգառը Օհանավանի տարածքում էր՝ Քասախի կիրճում, որտեղ բնակիչներից մեկը սեփական տարածքում հողային աշխատանքների ժամանակ հայտնաբերել է միջնադարյան ժայռափոր դամբարան: «Պատմամշակութային արգելոց-թանգարանների և պատմական միջավայրի պահպանության ծառայություն» ՊՈԱԿ-ի Արագածոտնի մարզային ծառայության կողմից դեպքն արձանագրվել և աշխատանքները դադարեցվել էին: Քննարկվել են աշխատանքների ընթացքում հայտնաբերված հնագիտական առարկաները պետությանը հանձնելու և հրատապ պեղումների անհրաժեշտությունը: Առաջիկայում նոր հայտնաբերված հուշարձանը կվկայագրվի և կստանա նաև նորահայտ հուշարձանի կարգավիճակ:

Մասնագետները շրջայց են կատարել նաև 10-15-րդ դարերի «Սերկևիլ» գյուղատեղիի, Սբ Գրիգոր Լուսավորիչ եկեղեցու, պարսպի և կիկլոպյան ամրոցի տարածքներում:

YEREVAN.  Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, First Deputy Minister of Defense, Lieutenant General Edward Asryan paid a working visit to the South-East and South-West border zones, the ministry said.

Lieutenant General Edward Asryan visited a number of military units, talked with servicemen on combat duty, got acquainted with the border situation, the conditions of service organization on the spot and also held consultations with the participation of the command staff of the military units.

According to the source, Edward Asryan also followed the progress of construction of engineering and fortification structures, visited the newly built modular military unit and got acquainted with the work carried out.

ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Defense has released fake news accusing the Armenian military of opening fire across the border, the Ministry of Defense of Armenia said.

“The statement of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan alleging that on February 16, at 12:50 p.m., units of the Armenian Armed Forces opened fire towards Azerbaijani combat positions in the eastern part of the border, is disinformation,” the Ministry of Defense of Armenia said.

Armenia is willing to start a visa liberalisation dialogue with the EU, and the latter has expressed its preparedness to explore further possibilities to facilitate this dialogue and reach an agreement on the matter.

The EU-Armenia Partnership Council met in Brussels this week. During the meeting, the EU and Armenia confirmed their commitment to deepening the relations and working on the possibility of permitting visa-free travel for Armenians, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

According to the Council of the EU, the Partnership Council said that Armenia is ready to begin talks on visa liberalisation.

The same stressed that the EU is also committed to making additional efforts, suggesting that the authority is open to exploring options for starting the visa liberalisation dialogue with Armenia.

In addition expressing its readiness to make additional efforts on the matter, the EU also welcomed the implementation of the Visa Facilitation agreement and of the readmission agreements by the country.

The EU also encouraged Armenia to maintain and intensify its efforts in this regard.

Under the Visa Facilitation agreement, the issuance of Schengen visas for short stays is facilitated for citizens of Armenia.

Different from nationals of other third countries who need to pay a €80 visa fee, Armenians need to pay only a €35 fee for their Schengen visa application.

Moreover, in line with the Visa Facilitation agreement, Member States shall issue multiple-entry visas with a validity of up to five years to some Armenians.

While Armenians still have to undergo the same visa application procedure as all those who need a visa to enter the Schengen Area, the Visa Facilitation agreement has significantly cut the expenses for them.

Earlier in September 202, it was revealed that citizens of Armenia are saving around €2.2 million each year since the visa fee cost was cut. As for the 2014-2023 period, Armenians saved more than €18 million with reduced visa fees.

Armenians file a high number of applications each year, and the reduction in the visa fee has had a positive impact not only on them but also on Schengen countries as more Armenians are choosing European destinations.

The number of Armenians reaching the Schengen Member States is expected to increase even more once a visa liberalisation agreement is reached.

Armenia’s Greco-Roman Wrestling Team finished 3rd in the team ranking at the 2024 European Wrestling Championships in Bucharest with 3 medals.

Olympic champion Artur Aleksanyan won his 7th gold at the European championships. Malkhas Amoyan took his 3rd bronze. Manvel Khachatryan also won bronze.

Armenia’s Greco-Roman Wrestling Team finished 3rd in the team ranking at the 2024 European Wrestling Championships in Bucharest with 3 medals.

Olympic champion Artur Aleksanyan won his 7th gold at the European championships. Malkhas Amoyan took his 3rd bronze. Manvel Khachatryan also won bronze.

Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and Armenian National Assembly President Alen Simonyan agreed that Bulgaria and Armenia have an excellent partnership, an active and constructive dialogue, and the potential to significantly build on bilateral economic and investment cooperation. The two held a meeting at the President’s Office during  Simonyan’s official visit to Bulgaria, the head of State’s press service said.

During their talks, Radev highlighted Bulgaria’s interest in further boosting trade and investment in Armenia and the importance of expanding transport, energy, and digital connectivity in the region. He stressed the importance of the Armenian-Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Economy, which provides additional tools for cooperation between the businesses of the two countries.

The sides also highlighted the centuries-old historical and cultural ties between Bulgarians and Armenians, which are a solid foundation for deepening cooperation in education through an increased exchange of students and researchers.

Radev pointed to the outstanding contribution of the large Armenian community in Bulgaria to the development of bilateral ties and its active participation in the social, economic, and cultural life in Bulgaria.

“Bulgaria will also continue to work to strengthen the European Union’s partnership with Armenia,” the President further noted. The sides also discussed topical issues related to the ways sought to achieve sustainable peace, security, and stability in the South Caucasus region.

One person is dead and 10 to 15 people are injured from a shooting in Kansas City, Missouri, following the parade and rally for the Chiefs’ Super Bowl win, officials said.

The exact number of gunshot victims was not immediately clear, Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said, calling the shooting a “tragedy.”

Two suspects have been taken into custody, she said.

Three victims are in critical condition and five are in serious condition, according to the Kansas City Fire Department.

The shooting took place west of Union Station, near the garage, as Chiefs fans were leaving, according to Kansas City police.

About 1 million paradegoers were expected at Wednesday’s celebration.

Paradegoer Arnold Sauther said when the rally ended the Chiefs went into Union Station, and fans followed the players to get autographs.

“Then, all of a sudden they all started running out, and you see all these policemen come running in there — and you knew something happened in the station,” Sauther told Kansas City ABC affiliate KMBC.

“We see people running and we hear gunshots and we take off running. And we look over and there’s a guy next to us on the ground,” witness Jennifer Wilbers told K All Chiefs players, coaches and staff are safe, according to police.

Players, including quarterback Patrick Mahomes, linebacker Drue Tranquill and guard Trey Smith, are speaking out on social media.

“People started crashing forward, everybody started running, there was screaming,” another woman told KMBC. “We didn’t know what was happening, but in this day and age when people run, you run.”

“We went where an elevator was, we shut the doors and sat back against the doors and we prayed,” she said.

“There was yelling and we didn’t know if it was safe to leave, so we tried to block the doors. We heard the elevator start to move so we opened the doors and ran out — there were officers there,” she said. “I’ve never been so glad to see an officer in my life.”

The police chief said 800 law enforcement officers were at the parade and rally.

“I am angry,” Graves said. “The people who came to this celebration should expect a safe environment.”

President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting, according to the White House.

As the nation tuned in for the highly anticipated Super Bowl showdown between the San Francisco 49ers and their formidable opponents, the energy was electric. Yet, amidst the thrilling plays and intense competition, a moment of anguish and concern gripped the hearts of fans worldwide as one of the 49ers’ star players suffered a devastating Achilles injury.

The game had been a rollercoaster of emotions, with both teams showcasing their skills and determination. However, it was during a pivotal moment in the second half that the mood shifted dramatically. As the star player, whose explosive athleticism had been instrumental in the 49ers’ journey to the Super Bowl, made a sharp cut, a collective gasp echoed through the stadium.

In the midst of the chaos on the field, the microphones picked up the raw emotions of players, coaches, and commentators alike. The disbelief and concern were palpable as they witnessed the star athlete crumble to the ground, clutching his lower leg in agony. The announcers’ voices wavered as they struggled to maintain their composure while conveying the severity of the situation to millions of viewers.

“Unbelievable, Jim. That’s a sight nobody wanted to see,” remarked one commentator, his voice tinged with sadness.

The cameras panned to the sidelines, capturing the reactions of teammates and coaches. Some bowed their heads in prayer, while others paced anxiously, their faces etched with worry. The microphones captured snippets of conversations as players rallied around their fallen comrade, offering words of encouragement and support.

“Stay strong, brother. We got you,” one teammate could be heard saying, his voice filled with empathy.

As medical personnel rushed onto the field to attend to the injured player, the gravity of the situation became even more apparent. The commentators provided updates on the player’s condition, but the somber tone underscored the seriousness of the injury.

“It’s confirmed, folks. It’s an Achilles tear. A devastating blow for the 49ers,” announced one commentator, his voice heavy with regret.

Throughout the remainder of the game, the specter of the injury loomed large, casting a shadow over the proceedings. Despite the valiant efforts of the remaining players, the loss of their star athlete was keenly felt by the 49ers and their fans.

In the aftermath of the game, as the final whistle blew and confetti rained down on the field, the focus shifted to the injured player’s recovery journey. Messages of support flooded social media channels, with fans, teammates, and rivals alike expressing their hope for a speedy recovery.

“Sending prayers and positive vibes your way, champ. You’ll be back stronger than ever,” tweeted one fan, encapsulating the sentiment of many.

As the Super Bowl concluded and the spotlight dimmed, the resilience and camaraderie displayed by the players in the face of adversity remained a poignant reminder of the human spirit’s indomitable nature. While the outcome of the game may have been decided on the field, the true measure of strength and character was evident in the compassion and support shown in response to one player’s injury.